Improvement in washing-machines



PATENTE JUL 25 1871 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. SHADBOLT, OF ATTICA, NEVI YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,472, dated July 25,1871 antedated July 18, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. SHADE oLT, of Attica, in the county ofWyoming and State of New York, have invented a certain Improvement inWashing-Machines, of which the following is a speciiication:

My invention relates to the arrangement, within a circular tub providedon its inner surface with vertical ribs, of a series of rollers arrangedconcentrically, and rotating between two disk-bean ings which arearranged one above the other and supported so as to revolve around avertical axisthe resistance opposed by the ribbed surface of the tub andthe action of the revolving concentric arrangement of rollers at thecenter of the tub causing the clothes to rotate and roll therein.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a vertical section, Fig. II isa horizontal section, and Fig. III a diagram, showing the end ofthecross-bearing piece at the top of the tub and the manner ofsecuring itin place.

Like letters refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A is a tub of any ordinary and suitableconstruction, with its sidespreferably slightly ilaring or widening toward the top. B B are thevertical ribs formed with the sides of the vessel, or secured to theinner surface thereof, as shown. C C C are rods, preferably of wood,arranged concentrically so as to revolve between two circular heads orbearings, D D, placed one above the other. E is a cylindrical blockarranged vertically within the circular arrangement of rollers so as toform a support for the disk-heads D Dl which are attached to its ends.Any other suitable means for supporting the bearings D may.

be used instead of this block E. The upper head D. is preferably made alittle smaller than the lower one, so as to cause the rollers C toslightly converge toward the top in order to reduce the width of theannular space G surrounding them, which permits the clothes to partiallywedge or fit more snugly therein. The lower disk'or head Dmay beprovided with a bearing-point to fit in a step in the bottom of the tub,or the pivoti may be made to project upward from the bottom of the tubinto a socket, fi', in the under side of the head. From the upper head Da rod or shaft, J, extends vertically upward through a bearing, K,formed by a crosspiece which extends across the top ofthe tub with itsends fitted in notches in the edge thereof, in which it is secured so asto be readily removable by hooks l l, as shown in Fig. III. Above thiscross-piece, on the end of the shaft J, is mounted a bevel-pinion, M,which engages with a bevel-wheel, N, on the end of a horizontal shaft,O, which is supported in suitable standard-bearing lD P projecting fromand supported by the cross-piece K. The machine is operated by a winch,Q, at the end of the shaft 0 in an obvious manner, which causes thecircular disks or heads D D and the rollers arranged between them torevolve within the tub. The garments or clothes to be washed are placedin the annular space in sufficient quantityto slightly wedge therein,when, by turning the winch or crank, they are rolled around in saidannular space. This rotation is induced by a difference in the frictionbetween the two surfaces in contact therewith-the rigid vertical ribswith the increased surface which they present opposing a much greaterresistance than the reduced surface of the rollers C, which freelyrevolve between the disk-bearings D D. Small articles and those portionsofthe garments most soiled can be readily washed, or subjected to anincreased rubbing, by holding them in contact with the outer surface ofthe rotating-rollers of the revolving cylinder.

I do not claim, broadly, the arrangement, within a tub vertically ribbedon its inner surface, of a revolving ribbed or corrugated cylinder.

I claim as my invention- The arrangement of the vertically-ribbed innersurface B B of the tub, the actuating mechanism J M N Q, the revolvingbearings D D', and

independently rotating rollers C C, as hereinbe y fore set forth.

CHARLES T. SHADBOLT.

Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, A. D. LORD.

